An incendiary device made of gas canisters that was planted in former Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis' office in central Athens exploded on Tuesday evening, local TV channel reported.

Policemen are seen outside former Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis' office in Athens, Greece, April 3, 2012. An incendiary device made of gas canisters that was planted in Costas Simitis' office in central Athens exploded on Tuesday evening, local TV channel reported. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

No one was injured in the blast, although the office was partially damaged, according to police sources.

The device was placed on the fifth floor of the building housing the former prime minister's office, which is just a short distance from the Greek parliament.

A minor fire caused by the blast was extinguished by the fire brigade within a few minutes, Greek private television channel SKAI reported.

Tuesday's attack came just two days after a far-Left group named "February 12 Movement" claimed responsibility for a failed attack with gas canisters at the Athens metro this February.

Anarchist and far-Left guerrilla groups operating in Greece have stepped up attacks against political, police and financial targets since the start of an escalating debt crisis in late 2009, which has been treated with tough austerity measures in order to avoid a disorderly default.

A local guerrilla group named "Revolutionary Liberation Action" has claimed responsibility for a similar attack with gas canisters at the office of the socialist former Premier (1996-2004) on February 2010.